Aircraft



AIRCRAFT. APPLICATION FILED AUG.28 1919. l

Paten Apr. 5, E921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. H. CASPAP.

' AmcRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG281 1919.

Patante Apr. 5, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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C. H. GASPAR.

AIRCRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.2s. 1919.

Paten Apr. 5, 1921.

6 MEETS-SHEET 3.

C. H. GASPAR.

AIRCRAFT. I IPPLICA'TION FILED AUI-1.28. 11919.

Patented Apr. 5,1921.

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To all whom t may concern sfrA'rEs ATENE'a CHARLES H. GASPAR, 0F IHILADEL'PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AIRCRAFT..

recentie.

Specicatioii of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5,192f.

Application filed August 28, 1319. Serial No. 320,358.

` principal objects of the invention are to pro- Vide an aircraft in which the power is employed in a novel manner whereby the efliciency of the aircraft, both as to its lifting power and as to its propelling power, is materially increased over any type of aircraft at present constructed or known. A further object of my invention is to provide an aircraft in which the power may be utilized at will for exerting a lifting force or a propelling force and which shall embody means whereby the power may be distributed between, and employed in, lifting and piopelling the aircraft in such proportions as may be desired. Further objects of my in vention are to provide an aircraft having maximum stability and in which a given lifting-effort or propelling effort may be accomplished with an amount of power very materially less than the amount required to perform an equal amount of work in heavier than air machines as at present constructed. In consequence, I am enabled by the employment of my invention to provide an aircraft which is capable of sustaining a greater load, of traveling at a greater speed with a given amount of vpower and of being more easily controlled thamany type of aircraft constructed in accordance ,with the methods employed -in present practice. l

My invention further comprises all of the various other novel objects and features of construction and arrangement hereinafter referred to more in detail and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

` The various advantages of lmy invention arise, primarily, b'y reason of a novel principle of applying power, peculiarly adapted for use in connection with aircraft, although the same may be utilized in various other ways in the mechanic arts. This principle which I have discovered' and which I believe to be broadly new both in theory and iu application, rests `on the fact that when a in the art to practise propeller, for example of the type generally employed in connection with aircraft, is positioned between a pair of wallsor disks, arranged preferably in planes normal to its axis of rotation, the walls or disks being of the same or larger area than the diameter of the propeller, the latter will have the `same thrust in the air' or other fluid in which vit' is located as though the walls or disks were not so positioned adjacent the propeller. Furthermore, I have discovered .that the efliciency of the thrust of thepropeller remains constant, whatever be the speed at which the propeller and its adjacent disks are moved through the air which surrounds them, or, in other words, the thrust Vof the propeller-.between the walls or disks is une'ffected by the speed of an air current passing the walls or disks, as there are. always formed between the disks what I term a static Zone in which vthe air has `no velocity due to relative movement between the disks and the surrounding atmosphere. Y

In the construction of my improved aircraft I take advantage of the principle to which I have briefly referred, and so ar. range and position certain of the propellers that their power is exerted not in the external atmosphere, as inpresent constructions, but upon a suitable fluid which in ordinary constructions will be ai'rbut 1n certain constructions may be a flu'id `heavier than air, for example,- water, in a suitable chamber adjacent the propeller provided with means, Such as suitable planes adapted to be Warped or flexed in any suitable manner, whereby the power delivered by the propeller on the Huid may be directed to exert under certain conditions a maximum lifting effort and under other conditions a maximum propulsive' effort as 'desired and as may be required in the operation of the aircraft. I am thus enabled to so position and locatey the means, for example the planes, through the adjacent fluid by the propeller is effective to produce the required lifting or a greater period .of time than is possible in' aircraft constructed in accordance withi present practice.

For vthe purpose of enabling those skilled my invention, I have illustratedy in the accompanying drawings ico' upon which the power exerted stances omitted such details of constructionv as concern-the particular means employed to effectthe control and operation of certain of the parts, as such means may be of any suitable or convenient -form as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and to this extent the said drawings may therefore be considered as diagrammatic rather than as intended to illustrate specific details of construction.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 I have illustrated on form of aircraft constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 1 being a top plan view thereof partially in horizontal section, Fig. 2 a vertical section on the line 1-1 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 an`end elevation of the front end of the aircraft. Fig. 4 is an en- Vlarged detail fragmentary viewin central vertical section of a ortion of one of the fuselages shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 a fragmentary horizontal section on line v5.-5 in Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows. In Figs. 6, 7' and 8 I have illustrated another form of aircraft embodying -my invention, Fig. 6 being a central section thereof, Fig. 7, a horizontal section on the line 7-7 in Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 8, a transverse verticalsection on the line 8-8 in Fig. 6. In Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, I have shown a still further modified form of aircraft construct ed in accordance with the principles of my 1nvent1on, Fig. 9 being a central vertical section thereof, Fig. 10 a horizontal sec-- tion on line 10-10 in Fig.- 9, and Figs. 11 and 12 transverse sections on the lines n in-ia-ie in Fig.,9.

Referring now more particularly tol that form of invention shown in Figs.r 1 to 3 inclusive, the aircraft therein illustrated may comprise a pair of laterally spaced, substantially parallel fuselages 2, 2 which may preferably be arranged so that they ,will form pontoons or boats capable of supporting the aircraft on the water when desired.

lThese fuselages are connected by a plurality of planes 3, 3` which' are preferably arranged' in superposed tiers or sets ,disposed one behind the other as best shown in Fig. 2, and are adapted to be acted upon byl the air currents generated by -a plurality of propellers 4, 4 of suitable size and construction, the propellers 4 being positioned in advance of the planes 3 in such manner thatthe air currents generated thereby will im-` pinge on said planes and the propellers 4 being similarly arranged in advance of the planes 3; It will be understood that the fuselages 2, 2 serve to support a suitablyl positioned cabin or compartment 6 which may conveniently extend between the fuselages and in which are positioned a plurality of suitable motors 7, 7 adapted through suitable driving means comprising the shafts 8, 8 toactuate the respective sets of propellers, as will be readily understood by those familiar with the4 art. The aircraft may 'also be provided with one or more outwardly extending stabilizing planes 10 which may be arranged'in any suitable and convenient manner and which, whenthe aircraft/ is in operation, will act in the usual' manner for stabilizing and also to some extent, for supporting the aircraft. For the purpose of utilizing my novel `method of applying power in my improvedaircraft, I

.employ va plurality of propellers of suitable and preferably near the forward and rear extremities thereof, a vertical, lpreferably cylindrical chamber 12, extending entirely through the fuselage, and suitably position within each of lSaid chambers one ormore revoluble casings 13 adapted for rotation on a vertical axis. The-casings may be positioned Within the 'chamber in any suitable or convenient manner, as, for example, and as shown in the drawings, by providing in each casing an outwardly extending ange 14 which may be supported between rollers 15 secured to suitable pivots fixed 'in the walls of the chamber, so thatthe casing,

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While supported vertically, is capable of revolution about its vertical axis. Any suitable means may be employed to effect the revolution of the casing when desired, those shown comprising. a conveniently positioned pinion 16 adapted to mesh with teeth formed on the periphery of flange 14 and mounted on a shaft `17 carryinga suitable Worm Wheel adapted for engagement with a horizontally positioned worm 19 carried on a shaft driven by a motor 20, the arrangement being such that the mo'tor, when actuated, will serve to turn the casing about its vertical axis. If desired, `a suitable reversing gear may be interposed inthe mechanism directions for this purpose.

suitable propeller 23 adapted lfor rotationv on, a vertical shaft 24 suitably supported within the casing and actuated from a shaft 25 connected to the propeller shaft through gearing 26, or in any 4other convenient manner,'the pro ellers if of the same pitch being arrange to rotate in the same direction,

or if of opposlte pitch then in opposite directions. Within each casing and in co- A operative relation with each propeller are arranged a suitable lnumber, for example, a

pair, lof planes or aerofoils 30, and means 'are provided whereby these planes may be, preferably simultaneously, flexed or warped as desired,`so as to present any desired angle of. incidence, within limits,- to the air cur rents generated by the propeller. In the form of the invention shown, the means for exing the planes comprises a sleeve 31 to which 'one end of each of thefplanes` is attached, which is adapted to slide. on a bar 32 fixed to the casing 13. Any suitable means may be adopted for sliding the sleeve on the bar; for example, the sleeve may be provided with teeth adapted'to .mesh'with' aj pinion 33, suitably supportedz and driven through a shaft 34 from any suitable source of power, sothat by rotation of the pinion the sleeve will be caused to traverse the shaft longitudinally and the ends ofthe planes attached thereto will be moved' in either' direction with reference to the bar, the opposite ends of the planes, ofcourse, being preferably held in fixed position` on another bar- 35 adjacent the opposite end of the casing. lIf desired, however, any other suitable and "convenient means may be employed for edecting the warping of the planes.

lt will be evident with the parts-arranged as described, that the casings 13 and with them the contained planes may ybe rotated when and as desired, so that the relation of the planes 30 to the axial line of the fuselage may be varied, and in addition, that no matter what the position of the casing, the

may be warped inthe casing transversely to the axis of rotation of the casing to the, generally, coinciding axis of rotationg-pf their adjacent ropellers, from sub stantially'the position s own in full lines in Fig, 4 to the position shown in dottedy lines therein, andimay be rigidi held in these 'bsitions or in an interme ate osition as may be desired, thereby varying the angle of incidence on the planes of the fluid currents generated' by the adjacent propellers and passing through the casing',- to thereby modify'the thrust exerted on the planes, and which is operative to propel the aircraft through the air as desired ;l the maximum thrust being exerted when the planes are substantially inthe position shown 'in full and in dotted lines, and no thrust being exerted when the planes are parallel with the axis of rotation of the propeller, which may be termed normal position. When lthe planes are iexed from such normal position toward the position shown in full lines the thrust `will increase and tend to force the aircraft ahead, and similarly when the planes are flexed from normal position to-v ward the position shown in dotted lines, the thrust will correspondingly increase but in the opposite direction, thereby tending to reverse the direction of motion of the aircraft so that the thrust will be effective to give the aircraft a rearward movement.

Moreover, by effecting a partial rotation of the casings 13, the direction of the thrust, if it may be so termed, with respect to the axial line. of the aircraft, may be varied, so that the latter may be steered from right to left, or vice versa, as desired, by suitable manipulation of the casings and their con: tained planes, no matter whether the .latter be adj usted to propel the aircraft forward or rearwardly at maximum speed or ata speed less than maximum.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 inclusive, no planes corresponding to planes 3, 3 and stabilizing planes 10 are positioned externally of the aircraft, the latter being entirely self contained. in so far as its supporting and propelling planes are concerned and but a single body or fuselage 4() being employed. .While the 'body of the aircraft may be of any desired or suitable form, I prefer to construct the body substantially of the design shown and to provide the same `with a suitable, longitudinally extending `tunnel 41, which may be conveniently open at each end tothe external atmosphere and extend from the forward end of the aircraft, which is at the left hand side in Figs. 6 and .7, to, the rear end or stern thereof. While this-tunnel may be Y of any suitable shape and form, I refer to make the same substantially as s own in Fig. 6, that is, to give the tunnel, which mayv conveniently be of substantially circular cross section for the greater portion of its 1 to 3 inclusive,these propellers being arranged to direct currents o-f air against a plurality of planes 44 arranged within the tunnel, preferably in. superposed sets or tiers disposed one behind the other similarly to p'lanes 3, 3 already referred to. These planes serve both as stabilizing and lifting planes when acted upon by the currents of air generated in the tunnel by the propellers 43. It will be understood that these propel- 1ers are preferably carried on horizontal shafts and so arrangedl that they maybe operated either independently or -conjointly from a suitable source of motive power, such as the motors 4G, which may preferably be positioned .in the lower part of the body, in.

which may also be conveniently located the fuel tanks 47 andother accessories necessary for the operation of the motors.

lVithin each of the minor horizontally extending portions of the tunnel I preferably position a propeller 48 mounted on a horizontal shaft and suitably actuated from the motors, as well as a pair of planes or aerofoils 49, adapted to be warped or flexed similarly to the planes or aerofoils 30 already described, and in the vertically extending portions of thetunnel I also preferably ar range vertically positioned lanes or aerofoils 50 in' suitable revolu le casings 51 which may be either located within the tun nel or conveniently, and as shown in the drawings, form a part of the wall thereof, the joints, of course, between the revoluble casings and the stationary portions of the tunnel wall being suitably formed to prevent the escape of the fluid from the tunnel. These planes are adapted to be acted upon by fluid currents generated mainly by propellers 52 mounted on vertical shafts and suitably actuated from" the motors 46. It will be understood that the mounting and arrangement of the planes or aerofoils 49 and 50 and of thecasings 51 in which the aerofoils 50 are contained, may preferably be substantially similar to the method of mounting' planes 30 and adjacent casing 13 ,hitherto described and shownindetail in Figs. 4 and 5, and I therefore, for the sake of clearness, have omitted from Figs. 6 and 7 the details thereof, as it will be understood that the same are such that the 'planes may be warped or flexed from normal position in which they areparallel t0 the axis of the tunnel to positions in which the maximum thrust of their adjacent propellers will bel exerted; inthe case of planes 50, to propel theaircraft forwardly or rearwardly, and in the case of planes 49 to direct the same'upwardlyor downwardly, as it'may be desired,

to raise the aircraftfrom vthe earth or water at the beginning of a flight or to direct it toward the earth or water at the termination thereof to effect a landing thereon. Moreover, the rotation of the casings 51, similarly tion of their adjacent propeller-s, will be ef-V fective to direct the aircraft to the right or left during the flight as may be desired.

In Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, I have illustrated a still further'modiied form of the invention, which in most respects is substantially similar to the form just described save that instead of forming the tunnel 41 so that at its forward and rear ends it will be open to the externalatmosphere as in the form of the invention shown in Figs. G, 7 and 8, the tunnel is made continuous, and a constant circulation of the fluid contained in the tunnel maintained therein by the action of the `various propellers. stood that when a continuous tunnel is employed fluids other than air may be utilized therein, as, for example, water, the thrust of the propellersthereon and its reaction on the planes and aerofoils contained in the tunnel operating to bring about the desired results of lifting and propelling the aircraft,

the same are therefore preferably arranged' in such manner that they may lie-operated independently or conjointly. However, the employment of a plurality of propellers op erating simultaneously is Adesirable under most conditions for the purpose of prevent? ing eddy currents in the fluid and to assist in circulation of the fluid in the tunnel, so that I prefer to arrange the propellers for conjoint or individual operation in order that the same may be utilized under operative conditions to the best advantage. Furthermore, when a more densefluid than air is employed in a closed tunnel of the form shown in Figs. 9 to `12-inclusive, a corre` It will be undercompensating for frictional losses due to the spondingly smaller amount of fluid and i smaller aerofoils and tunnel may be emvployed thanwhen utilizing air in an open tunnel of similar proportions, owing to the greater magnitude of pressure it is possible to obtain by the use of the more dense fluid. It will be understood ythat while I have described and illustrated hereinA certain forms of aircraft embodying my invention, I do not intend or desire to thereby limit myself specifically to such forms, as the iiivention may be embodied with equal facility in ,other forms and utilized with equal facility in connection with heavier than air and the water or upon its surface, and furthe] movable casing,a propeller arranged adja-y that the specific arrangement of themechanlsm for flexing aerofoils, for rotating the -casings and for actuating the propellers may '4 be of any suitable construction or design adapted for obtaining the results desired, and that the configuration and general design of the fuselages, or bodies, may be modified as may be necessary to adapt the same to the different conditions which it is intended to meet in practice, asit will be readily understood that forms suitable, for example, for cargo or passenger service, `would not be well adapted for use in military aeronautics or the like, so that the same may be modified or varied from those herein shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined-in the appended claims. I i

YHaving thus described my inventiom l claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent g'ofthev United. States 1. In an aircraft, the combination of a cent said casing and adapted to, direct a current of fluid therethrough, a plane within said casing -ixed atfone end with respect thereto, and means whereby the oppositeend of said plane may be moved to cause said plane tov assume a position in angular rela tion to the normal direction of flow of said current. i

2. In an aircraft, the combination of a casing, rotatable about its central axis, a propeller arranged adjacent said casing adaptedy to direct a current of fluid therethrough, a plurality. of planes arranged within said casing and normally parallel to the axis thereof, one end ofeach of said planes being fixed witlf respect to s aid casing, means whereby the-other ends of said planes may be moved transversely of said casing tocause said planes to assume an angular relation to the central axis of said casino', and meanswhereby said casing'ma'y be axially rotated independently vofthe po- 4sition of the planes within said casing.

3. ln. an aircraft, the combination with a cylindrical, axially rotatable casingopen at each e`nd,lofA a propeller arranged adjacent saidcasing and operative to cause a cur-rent of fluid to pass therethrough, a pluralityi| of` planes positioned within said casingv and normally lying parallel. to the longitudinal` axis thereof, one end of each of said planes being fixed-with respect to said casing, means whereby the other -endspof said planes may be moved tocause said planes to simultaneously approach and recede from said longitudinal axis whereby said planes may be' caused to'assume an angularly disposed position with respect to said axis, andcmeans mounted in said tunnel to cause a circulation of fluid therein, anda plurality of planes positioned within said tunnel adapted for angular displacement with respect to and forrevolution about the axis thereof and arranged to coact against fluid currents generated by said propellers. I 1

.5. An aircraft comprising a body, a tunnel within said body, a plurality of propellers arranged within said tunnel, a plurality of sets of superposed planes arranged adjacent said propellers and disposed one behind the other in said tunnel for sustaining the air. craft, means for actuating said propellers, and means comprising propellers and Warping planes within said tunnel for propelling said aircraft.

6. An aircraft comprising a body, a tunnel v Within said body, a plurality of propcllcrs disposed in said tunnel, a plurality of sets of Superposed planes disposed one behind the other in said tunnel and adapted to react casing opera-tive to react against a fluid current passing through said casing.

7. In an aircraft having a tunnel in the body thereof, a revolu'ble casing coaxial -With said tunnel, a propeller adjacent said casing operative to cause the passage of fluid therethrough, a plane mounted in said casing, and means whereby said-plane may be moved to' vary the. angle of incidence of said iuid on said plane. A

8. An aircraft having a body and a tunnel therein filled with fluid, a plurality of` propellers in said tunnel operative to cause a flow of said fluid therein, a plurality of flexible planes adjacent said propellers, and means whereby said planes may be simultaneously rotatedaboutthe axis of the tunnel and flexed to vary the angle of incidence of said Huid on said planes.

9. An aircraft having a body and atunnel therein containing a1 fluid, a plurality ol-,stationary planes 1n said tunnel, a plurality-of propellers in said tunnel operative .to'cause a movement of said fluid therein,

against `a fluid'current'generated by said 95 ltunnel to vary the angle of incidence of said fluidoirsaidplanes. Y

10.An aircraftcomprisin .abody having atunnel therein, a plura ity of propel- 1ers inl said tunneloperative to cause a movement of fluid in said tunnel, a plane in said tunnel adjacent each of sa1d propellers,

means whereby said planes may be flexed in' a direction transverse to the axis of Said tunnel, and means whereby said planes mayr propellers in said tunnel, a plurality of planes adjacent each of said propellers, means whereby said planes may be flexed with respect to the axis of rotation of said propellers, and means whereby said planes may be rotated about said axis independw ently of theirl adjusted position with respect thereto. o

12. An aircraft comprising a body having a tunnel extending substantially longitudinally thereof, a plurality of propellers in said tunnel, a plurality ot' stationary superposed 'planes arranged adjacent said propellers in said tunnel, a pair of substantially vertically extending movable planes in said tunnel, a propeller adjacent said planes, a pair of substantially horizontally movable planes in said tunnel, a propeller adjacent said planes, and means whereby said movable planes may be flexed transversely of the axes of rotation of their adjacent propellers.

13. An aircraft having a tunnel, a plurality of propellers disposed in said tunnel, a plurality of sets of superposed stationary planes disposed in said tunnel adjacent said propellers, a revoluble casing coaxial with said tunnel, a movable plane disposed within said casing, a propeller adjacent said plane, means for flexing said plane transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of sald casing, means for revolving said plane may be moved to vary the angle of incidence of said fluid thereon.

15. An aircraft comprising a body,` an endless tunnel within said body, a plurality of'propellers mounted in said tunnel to cause a-circulation of fluid therein, and a plurality of planes positioned within said tunnel adapted to coact against fluid currents generated by said propellers.

' 16. ln' mechanism, an endless tunnel, a revoluble casing coaxial with said tunnel, a propeller adjacent saidvcasing operated to cause the passage of fluid therethrough, a plane mounted in said casing, means"whereby said plane may be moved to vary the angle of incidence of said fluid thereon.

ln Witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of August, 1919.

CHARLES GASPAR. 

